But both teachers returned his look with the same expression of helpless surrender.
It was clear now, any attempt to mediate was pointless. With lawyers now involved on both sides, there was no hope for a calm resolution, let alone a private settlement.
The Dean pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the beginnings of a tension headache. He had half a mind to call the parents but the fact that both parties had sent lawyers instead of showing up in person made one thing clear: they couldn't be bothered.
It was like the parents had handed their kids swords and told them, "Go ahead. Duel it out."
He was fully aware that the Rhian family ranked higher in the social hierarchy than the Zhi family.
But the moment Nathaniel Armour walked in, one whose presence alone could silence a courtroom, the message was unmistakable: Yeri wasn't just some favoured daughter. She was a Zhi, through and through, and her family had her back completely.
"I don't think this matter can be resolved at the school level any longer," he said, voice hoarse. "With lawyers involved from both parties, I'll escalate this to the school board for formal arbitration."
"Understood," Nathaniel said, nodding. "In the meantime, I will file an official request for the school to release all internal communications, forum archives, and dormitory CCTV footage relevant to this case."
Tiffany's lawyer opened his mouth to protest, but Nathaniel raised a hand with that same serene, unnerving calm. "I'd advise you not to speak further, you've already said more than enough to risk malpractice if this goes public."
The Dean's head drooped as if a full decade had been added to his life. This was supposed to be a simple disciplinary hearing, not the opening scene of a courtroom drama.
He stood up with effort and said stiffly, "You are all dismissed for now. A notice will be sent regarding the board's next steps. Until then, please refrain from further interaction or provocation within school premises."
Yeri stood gracefully, nodding at the Dean and teachers. "Thank you for your time."
Tiffany, on the other hand, was still red with rage, frozen in place like she couldn't decide whether to scream, cry, or throw her chair.
Nathaniel turned to Yeri with a warm, formal smile. "I'll be escorting my client out now."
As the door opened, students loitering outside jumped and scattered. News would spread like wildfire by the end of the day.
Yeri walked out first, calm and composed, while Tiffany steaming in rage, her lawyer desperately whispering damage control into her ear.
As the door closed behind them, the Dean sank back into his chair, eyes vacant. "Why… why didn't I become a fisherman…"
---
Rita or Backup Mouth #2, looked like she was about to cry. Or faint. Possibly both.
Unlike Tiffany, who had the IQ of a fish and had already shoved anything she couldn't understand to the back of her tiny mind, Rita was still stuck on the unresolved illusion from that day…
Yeri had left the restroom earlier.
Yet all three of them were sure the person they had attacked was also Yeri.
How could that be?
Who could explain this bizarre twist of reality to her?
To make matters worse, the issue had escalated and lawyers were now involved. And if they lost… what would happen to her?
---
Meanwhile, with no one else around, Yeri finally turned to ask the question that had been nagging her all day.
"Lawyer Armour, thank you for helping me today… but I don't recall ever meeting you before, and I haven't even told my parents about this issue yet."
The man gave her a polite but direct answer. "Shin Keir asked me to assist you. As for the details, you should ask him yourself."
Yeri blinked, stunned. Could it be…?
"Then Miss Zhi, I'll see you again at the next meeting," he added, offering her his business card. "If you have any questions or need help regarding the case, don't hesitate to reach out."
He glanced at his watch, his schedule clearly packed, then excused himself and left in a swift, purposeful stride.
Yeri didn't stop him. Knowing the nature of his profession, it made sense. Time really was money.
Since she'd already missed her post-lunch class, Yeri decided now was a good time to call Shin Keir.
The moment he answered, she didn't waste time. "You investigated me?"
There was the soft sound of papers flipping in the background before Shin responded calmly, "I had no choice. You didn't want to tell me anything. Yeri, I'm your boyfriend. You're being bullied at school, and you expect me to just sit back and do nothing?"
Yeri froze. She had grown used to handling everything herself. With her father constantly occupied with company matters, relying on others wasn't something that came naturally.
Still silent, she listened as Shin continued, voice steady but tinged with concern. "I know you didn't tell your family. But if that's the case, then depend on me. Don't keep enduring everything on your own."
Yeri exhaled softly, unsure of what she was feeling. "Thanks... Actually, I'm not someone who just lets people walk all over me. Besides, this was the first time Tiffany really crossed the line."
"You think so?" Shin asked, his voice carrying something cryptic beneath the calm.
"What do you mean?" Yeri asked, her brows furrowed.
"You'll find out soon enough." He sounded like someone with a plan already in motion. "You think this is the first time she went too far? People don't escalate out of nowhere. Yeri, blind tolerance encourages boldness. They think you're weak. If you want people to stop messing with you, then make sure they remember why they shouldn't."
Yeri: "..."
Was he giving her advice? Or lecturing her?
It was no wonder Shin Keir had a reputation for being cold and ruthless. He was always decisive. Always one step ahead.
Then, she remembered the night they were chased by those killers. If Shin had hesitated for even one second, they might not have made it out alive.
"...Got it. I'll remember that," she said softly.
"Is your cheek better now? Have you been taking your medication on time?"
So he hadn't believed her excuse about getting hurt in PE class. Yeri sighed. "I'm fine now. And about the lawyer... I'll cover the consultation fees—"
"No." Shin cut her off firmly. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not your creditor. And I'm definitely not your sponsor."
She opened her mouth to argue, but deep down she knew he wouldn't budge, no matter how she phrased it.
Just then, the school bell rang. She had to go back to class, ending their call for now.
When Yeri entered the classroom, the eyes that followed her were loud with curiosity, even if their mouths stayed shut.
She glanced around, but neither Tiffany nor Rita was present.
Given Tiffany's battered condition, the two had probably gone straight home or more likely, to the hospital after their humiliating defeat in the Dean's office.
"Yeri Zhi!" Nina hissed the moment Yeri sat down beside her. "Why didn't you tell me that freak show tried to mess with you again? I heard they caused a scene in the restroom but what does that have to do with you?"
Yeri was about to say it was nothing, especially with all the classmates nearby eavesdropping. But then she remembered Shin's lecture.
Even if she stayed quiet, Tiffany surely wouldn't. They'd probably already been spinning new lies wherever they could.
So, she calmly recounted the restroom incident but left out everything that happened later in the Dean's office. The case was still ongoing. She didn't want to give Tiffany's lawyer another excuse to twist her words.
---
Before the end of the day, the internet exploded.
KGG posted an official statement on their corporate page regarding the controversy surrounding Lucia Hera's dismissal.
And they did not hold back.
They listed Lucia's misconduct in detail—unauthorised access to internal documents, inappropriate relationships in the workplace, falsified reports, and bribery used to manipulate task assignments in order to gain entry to the CEO's floor.
But KGG didn't stop there.
Legal letters were dispatched like confetti at a New Year's party. Former employees who had jumped on the trending hate train found themselves suddenly silenced.
Troll accounts and clout-chasers who had thrown accusations at the company without evidence were tracked down, and many saw their accounts suspended or outright deleted.
It was a full-on online purge.
Smug ex-employees who had claimed wrongful termination scrambled to retract their posts. Some rushed to post public apologies, terrified their careers would end before they began sending resume to other companies.
Others, who had slandered KGG just to farm likes and followers, disappeared into the shadows once legal threats arrived in their inboxes.
Meanwhile, the neutral netizens, spectators with no stake in the drama, flooded the comment sections in droves.
"KGG doing what KGG does. If they could sue the whole internet, they would."
"LMAO these legal letters are scarier than my student loan balance. Bet those idiots are crying in their bathrooms right now."
"I knew Lucia Hera was shady. Where's her apology livestream now, huh?"
"Bruh. She didn't just get legal threats, KGG sent her a whole court summons. Ruthless."
"I've saved screenshots of all the people slandering KGG. Can't wait for those desperate apology posts."
"Hey, where's that streamer chick? She dragged Zhi Corporation into it too. Still pretending she's the victim?"
Yeri browsed through the comments, skimming the top posts to see if anyone was still slandering her dad's company. But so far, the focus had shifted almost entirely to KGG and that infamous woman, Lucia Hera.
Some people still brought up the incident at Café Zhillion, but the tone had changed. There were no more malicious accusations, just a mix of curiosity and speculation.
"Let's go?" Nina wrapped her arm around Yeri's and gently tugged.
Yeri, still absorbed in her phone, didn't protest and let Nina lead her along.
Their classmates were already ahead, cheerfully chatting as they entered a cozy café just a few blocks from school.
It wasn't until Yeri looked up from her phone that she noticed something off.
"…Why are we all sitting on this side?" she asked, frowning as she glanced around the long table.
Nina rolled her eyes. "I don't know either. I think this is how it's supposed to be in a mixer?"
"Mixer?" Yeri's eyes widened. Wait. Is it exactly what she had in mind?